Sir Richard Ian Barker KC: 1934 - 2022

It is with sadness that AMINZ advises our members of the passing of Sir Richard Ian Barker KC. 

Sir Ian was well-known to many of you, and his influence on the New Zealand legal landscape was significant. 

Sir Ian was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1958, took silk in 1973, and was a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand from 1976 to 1997. He made numerous distinguished contributions to the evolution of the New Zealand court system. He also played a pivotal role further afield, particularly as a Judge on the Cook Islands Court of Appeal. His work also spanned to the appeal courts of Fiji, Samoa, Vantuatu, Kiribati, and the Pitcairn Islands (held in Auckland).

Following his work on the Bench, he was a successful and much sought-after arbitrator and mediator for two decades. 

He was knighted in 1994 for his services to the law, and in 2001 he was a founding member of Bankside Chambers.

After retiring from the Bench, Sir Ian took on major appointments both in New Zealand and abroad, including being the first World Intellectual Property Organisation domain dispute panelist appointed in New Zealand. 

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were fortunate enough to know him well. Given the impact he made across New Zealand law over the past six decades, his passing will be felt far and wide.